Rod handling apparatus



Jan. 2, 1934. K. D. FULLER ROD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [IZWII far JienneihflFuller.

JZZZarney.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROD HANDLING APPARATUS Application February 12, 1932. Serial No. 592,517

17 Claims.

This invention has reference to apparatus for handling pipe or rod stands in the operations of withdrawing or lowering strings of pipe or pump rod in wells. The invention is hereinafter described in connection with the handling of well pump rods, although it is to be understood that in its broad aspects the invention is capable of embodiment in apparatus for pulling or lowering pipe strings as well.

In the operation of pulling or lowering pump rod strings, it is highly essential that the addition or disconnection of the rod stands be made with the greatest possible speed, otherwise excessively long delays in operation are involved, especially where the rod string is of great length. The

speed with which thestands are capable of being handled is largely dependent upon proper cooperation between the draw works operator at the derrick floor, and the workman handling the elevator from a raised platform in the derrick. Due largely to the necessity for each operator having to more or less closely observe the actions of the other, considerable delay is occasioned, that might be avoided were the operators enabled to carry on their work more independently but without sacrifice of efficient cooperation. It is a general purpose of the invention to expedite the rod pulling or lowering operations by the provision of a rod handling apparatus which will permit substantially independent work on the part of the two operators, but at the same time enables each to know what is being done by the other. Using the present rod handling apparatus, it is found that the operations can be expedited to such an extent as to effect material savings in the time required to lower or pull the rod string from the well. As will hereinafter appear, the operation of the apparatus is such that each operator may at all times be aware as to the progress being made by the other, to the end that the more efficient cooperation between the operators is permitted.

Further objects and features of the invention, as well as the structural characteristics and details of a typical and preferred form, will be most readily understood and presented to best advantage in the description to follow. Reference is had for purposes of description to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view showing a derrick in which the rod supporting mechanism embodying the invention is installed;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the rod supporting mechanism as viewed from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation of Fig. 2, the parts being shown in the positions which they assume when the load is taken;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in changed positions; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

The purpose served bythe mechanism embodying the invention will perhaps be best understood, and its operation more clearly presented, by first describing the general operations followed in the course of disconnecting the stands of pump rod as the string is pulled from the well, and in the reverse operation of adding stands to the string as the latter is lowered into the well. Reference is first had to Fig. 1 showing derrick 10 and the usual draw works, conventionally illustrated at 11, by means of which the main ele vator 12 is raised and lowered, the elevator being supported by the combination hook and pulley 13 carried by the cable 14 which leads over the crown wheel 15 to winding'drum. The pump rod string, generally indicated at 16, consists of a series of stands 16a, each stand having a lower box end 17 into which is'threaded the upper pin v end 18 of the stand next below. The pump rod at the upper end of each stand, has a pair of spaced enlargements 19 and 20 which present downwardly facing annular shoulders adapted to be engaged by the elevators to support the entire string, or disconnected stand as the case may be.

An auxiliary elevator 22, carried on cable 23 trained over the suspended pulley 24, is arranged within the derrick at one side of the main elevator, the purpose of this auxiliary elevator being, in the course of disconnecting the stands from the string, tocarry the disconnected stands to a rack (not shown) in the upper interior of the derrick. In the course of adding stands to and lowering the rod string, the auxiliary elevator serves to take the stands from the rack and to bring them into position to be connected with the well string and to be taken by the main elevator. The operation of the auxiliary elevator 22 is controlled by a mechanism, generally indicated at 25, and hereinafter described in detail, the operation of this mechanism being controlled by a workman stationed on the elevated platform 26 within the derrick. 9

The rod string extending down into the well is suspended by suitable means, not shown, at the derrick floor, the nature of such supporting means being commonly known and requiring no detailedshowing herein. As illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the upper stand 16a is shown to be disconnected from the rod string, the string is supported in such manner that its upper end projects sufficiently above the support at the derrick floor as to enable the main elevator to be applied to the lower enlargement or shoulder on the rod.

In the course of pulling the string from the well, the main elevator 12 is lowered by the operator at the draw works 11, and is applied to the rod so as to engage beneath the lower enlargement 20, and the entire rod string is raised until the joint between the upper stand and the stand next below, comes well above the support at the derrick floor. The main elevator is then lowered, usually a substantial distance, in the operation of gripping the rod at the derrick floor to support the string while the upper stand is being disconnected. The auxiliary elevator 22 is applied to the rod beneath the upper enlargement 19 ordinarily during the downward movement of the string prior to the point at which the support at the derrick floor takes hold when the load becomes thus taken from the main elevator, the latter may be lowered into engagement with enlargement 20 of the stand next below to repeat the operation, as will be understood. However, the auxiliary elevator remains in engagement' with the upper stand so as to support the latter upon its being disconnected from the string. In conjunction with the present counterbalancing apparatus, I preferably utilize a stand supporting rack. of the type in which the a disconnected standsare supported by hooks or other grapple means carried on comparatively short cables attached to the rack frame. Using this type of rack, it becomes unnecessary to swing the auxiliary elevator with the disconnected stands to one side after the latter is unscrewed from the string, it being necessary merely to swing one of the rack hooks intov position to engage the disconnected stand without having to move the auxiliary elevator from its normal position of operation. As will later appear, the action of the auxiliary elevator is such that as the upper stand is unscrewed by'the application of tongs (not shown), the auxiliary elevator immediately rises and carries the disconnected stand to one side, 'rnaking way for the main elevator which 7 then immediately rises to withdraw the next stand of rod from the well.

It will be unnecessary to describe in detail the operation of adding the disconnected stands to the string as the latter is lowered into the well, since the operations are the reverse of those described above.

Referringnow to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the auxiliary elevator 22 is shown to be supported by a hook 28 connected with the cable 23 by means of a coupling 29. The latter consists of a hollow body 30 within which the head 31 on the shank of hook 28 is supported on bearings 32 to permit free swivel movement of the hook. A coil spring 33 is confined within the upper end of the body 30 above an enlargement 34 on the end of the cable, the purpose of spring 33 being to cushion the application of load to the mechanism at 25, as the elevator takes the rod load.

Cable 23 passes over pulley 24 and is wound around a drum 35 rotatably mounted on hangers 36 bolted to the derrick at 3'7, the hangers each comprising a pair of convergent arms 36a, 3612. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the winding drum 35 has two sections 35a and 35b of differential diameters, the cable 23 passing from the pulley 24 to the smaller diameter section 35a and thence being led through an opening 38 extending through the drum, and given a few turns around the large diameter section 35210:" the drum. From Fig. 1, it will be seen that the cable then extends downward toward the derrick floor and carries on its lower end a weight 39, hereinafter called the counterweight, the function of this weight being to counterbalance the weight of a disconnected rod stand. Counter-weight 39 is confined to move vertically in a path offset from a position of vertical alinement with the winding drum, by means of a guide rod 4.0 which extends through an opening in the counterweight.

The winding drum preferably, though not necessarily, is formed with the two differential diameter sections as described, in order to obviate the necessity forusing a counterbalancing weight as great as the weight of the rod stand, that is, to obtain the counterbalancing effect by the use of a weight much less than that of the rod stand. In 2 I have shown the diameter of drum section 25?) to be substantially twice that of the smaller section 35a. It therefore follows that turning leverage on the drum exerted by 100 the cable depending from the drum, will be twice that of the leverage exerted by the cable extending up over the pulley. Thus using'a drum of these proportions, a counterbalance of only half the Weight of the rod stand need be used in order to balance the turning moment on the drum offered by the weight or" the stand. For reasons that will hereinafter appear, the counterweight 39 preferably is given such additional weight, over that required to just counterbalance the rod stand, to cause the latter to rise upon its being connected from the rod string. The distance which the disconnected stand may be raised by the counterweight, is limited by the weight coming to rest on the derrick floor, although in 115 normal operations, the weight will at all times be suspended above the floor.

At the outside of the enlarged section 351) of the drum is a ratchet gear ll, the latter being so attached to the as to be, in effect, integral therewith. A rock shaft 42 is journaled in the lower arm portions 36b of the drum hangers, and rigidly secured to the rock shaft is a dog 43 which, in the position of Fig. 4, is adaptedfto be brought into engagement with the teeth of ratchet 41 to prevent turning of the drum in the direction indicated by the arrow. The dog 43 is urged toward ratchet engaging position, bythe action of coil spring 44 attached to the outer end of the dog and to a horizontally extending arm 45. A 130 lever arm as is also rigidly fixed to rock shaft 42, and carries on its lower end a brakeshoe 47 which is adapted to be applied to section 35c of the drum at the outside or" ratchet 41 to prevent or retard the rotation of the drum. As'shown most clearlyin Fig. 2, the brake shoe 47 is pivotally attached to the lever arm 16 by means of pin 48. will be understood, dog 43 and lever 46 rock together on shaft 42, whether under the influence of spring through its connection with the dog, or as a result or the operation of lever 46, as will presently appear.

At such tim s as no load is taken by the elevator 22, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 4. Here the dog 43 is brought by spring 44 to engage the ratchet teeth, the brake shoe 4? moved away from the and the upper end of the arm 46 swung to the left. The dog 43 thus locks the drum against turning in the direction of the arrow, and holds the counterweight 39 in raised position from which it may drop to elevate the rod stand upon release of the lock.

When the elevator takes the load of the disconnected rod stand, it is desired to release the lock on the drum to permit turning of the latter and to enable the counterweight to become effective to counterbalance or to raise the disconnected stand. In accordance with the invention, I have.

provided means whereby the lock may be released by virtue of the placing of load on the elevator, and in a manner such that as the main elevator starts down after raising the rod string to the highest point, the winding drum lock will become automatically released to permit the weight 39 to become efiective as a counterbalance for the stand when it becomes disconnected. As a preferred means for so automatically releasing the drum look, I provide an automatically operated mechanism that is actuated in accordance with the tension in the cable between pulley 24 and the drum. Broadly considered, the lock operated mechanism is at the same time unactuated in accordance with the taking or releasing of load on the elevator, since the load determines the cable tension.

The lock actuating mechanism comprises a link 50 having a lower forked end 51, the link being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 52 on a horizontally extending arm 53. Link 50 has attached to its upper end an arm 54 carrying a roller 55 which engages the cable 23; the position of arm 54 relative to link 50 being adjustable by way of the pin and slot connection at 56. The lower forked end 51 of the auxiliary link 50 engages a horizontally projecting pin 57 carried on the upper end of arm 46, pin 5'? normally engaging the side 51a of the'forked end of the link as a result of the tendency of spring 44 to throw arm 46 toward the left. In Fig. 4, where the elevator 22 is shown disconnected from the rod stand, spring 44- acts to maintain dog 43 in engagement with the ratchet gear and to maintain pin 57 in its limiting position toward the left, in which position link 50 is swung to its limiting position in the direction of arrow A. The tension of spring 44 is sufficient to swing link 50 in that direction against the resistance of the unloaded cable 23. When the elevator takes the load of the rod stand however, cable 23 becomes taut by virtue of the tension imposed, with the result that link 50 is swung in the direction of arrow B to the position shown in Fig. 3. Upon movement of link 50 in this direction, the upper end of arm 46 is swung to the right against the resistance of spring 44, and dog 43 is released from engagement with the ratchet gear. Arm 46 however is not swung sufficiently toward the right to cause the brake 47 to be applied to the drum. Thus with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the weight 39 becomes effective as a counterbalance for the rod stand and the drum is free to turn so as to enable the stand to be raised by the action of the counterweight as soon as the stand is disconnected from the main string. As

- soon as the disconnected stand is placed in the rack, the tension on the cable of course is released, permitting the parts to return to the positions of Fig. 4.

An adjustable stop, generally indicated at 58, is mounted on arm 45, and serves to limit the positions to which link 50 may be swung in the direction of arrow B. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the stop 58 comprises a block 59 carrying a trunnion 60 journaled in arm 45, block 59 being adapted to be swung on trunnion 60 to the position desired, as will appear. Trunnion 60' is located in an eccentric position longitudinally of the block, so that by swinging the block through its two positions of parallelism with arm 45, provision is made for limiting swinging movement of link 50 in two positions; Block 59 is held in its two positions of adjustment by means of a retractable spring pressed pin 60 adapted to be inserted within openings 61 and 62 in arm 45 to lock the block in position. Hereinafter that portion of block 59 toward the left of trunnion 60', as viewed in Fig. 5, will be termed the short end of the block, and that portion at the right of the trunnion, the long end of the block.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, block 59 is swung to the position in which its long end acts as a stop for link 50. As soon as the elevator takes the load, block 59 is swung to the opposite position so that link 50 is permitted to swing in the direction of arrow B sufficiently to disengage dog 43 from the ratchet. The length of the long end of the stop block preferably will be such that movement of link 50 will be allowed to the point at which dog 43 will engage, though not necessarily fully, the ratchet 1 00 teeth. This provision is made in order that if for any reason, as the rod stand is being lowered, the load on the elevator should suddenly become released, the dog will come into immediate engagement with the teeth, thereby obviating the possibility of the ratchet first gaining such speed of rotation that the dog will merely ride the crest of the teeth, without engaging them, as might be the case where the dog is permitted to swing a considerable distance away from the teeth in its released position.

It may be mentioned that where a greater range of movement of link 50 is desired, block 59 may be swung to a vertical position, thus extending the limit of swinging of the link in the direction of arrow B. In neither of the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is the brake 4? brought into braking engagement with the drum. In order that turning of the drum may be arrested at any desired point, I have provided a manually 12G operable brake which may be actuated independently and without interference with the normal action of link 50 in controlling the locking dog. Hand lever 64 is pivoted at 65 on the end of arm 45, the lower end of lever 64 being forked to take pin 57 on the upper end of arm 46. Brake 47 may be applied to the drum by swinging lever 64 in the direction of arrow C which results in the turning of the upper end of arm 46 toward the right and in brake applying direction. In 136 so applying the brake, no interference is had with link 50 for the reason that the space between the ends 51a, 51b of the latter is sufiicient to permit swinging of pin 57 toward the right end within the range required to apply the brake. In case this range of movement is not sufficient, stop 58 may be swung to a vertical'position to permit further movement of the lower end of link 50 toward the right.

At times it may be desired to manually rotate the drum for the purpose of bringing the elevator, either loaded or unloaded, into proper position. I have therefore provided a handle 68 attached to one of the trunnions 69 of the drum. It will be understood that the ratchet gear and 145 appurtenant or cooperating parts may be arranged at either end of the winding drum.

Corresponding to the vertical travel of the auxiliary elevator, the counterweight will also move vertically. Since the weight is constantly within the vision of the draw works operator, the latter will at all times be informed as to the progress being made by the operator on the raised platform, by the movements of the counterweight, Thus when the counterweight is seen to lower, the draw works operator will be aware that the disconnected stand has been raised to position in the rack. Similarly, when the counterweight becomes elevated, the indication is given that the auxiliary elevator has become pulled down in engagement with the rod string as the latter settles onto the supporting means at the derrick floor.

While for purposes of describing my invention I have illustrated and described one particular form of mechanism embodying the invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, and means controllable by the tension in the first mentioned end of said cable for, operating said drum holding means.

2. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end or" the cable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, yielding means urging the last mentioned means into drum holding position, and means controllable by the tension in the first mentioned end of said cable for operating said drum holding means.

3. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, and means operable by the application of load to the first mentioned end of said cable for releasing said drum holding means.

4, In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, yielding means urging the last mentioned means into drum holding position, and means operable by the application of load to the first mentioned end of said cable for releasing said drum holding means.

5. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached at one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, a ratchet gear attached to said drum, a dog movable into and out of engagement with said ratchet gear to lock the drum against rotation in one di- 6. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks,

a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, means operable by the application of load to the first mentioned end of said cable for releasing said drum holding means, and a manually operable brake for said drum.

'7. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of thecable, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, means operable by the application of load to the first mentioned end of said cable for releasing said drum holding means, a manually operable brake for said drum, and means for manually rotating said drum.

8. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, and means in the lower part of the derrick confining said counterweight in a path of vertical movement horizontally oiiset from a position of vertical alinement with said drum.

9. In rod handling apparatus for well ders ricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum, in the upper part of the derrick, a pulley above said drum, a cable wound around the drum and having an end passed upwardly and over said pulley, rod supporting means attached to the last mentioned end of the cable, a counterweight attached to the other end of said cable, means for releasably locking said drum against rotation in one direction, and means controllable by the ten sion in said cable between said pulley and the winding drum, for operating said locking means.

10. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a pulley above said drum, a cable wound around the drum and having an end passed upwardly and over said pulley, rod supporting means attached to the last mentioned end of the cable, a counterweight attached to the other end of said cable, a ratchet gear attached to said drum, a pivotally mounted dog adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said gear, a vertically extending oscillatory member operatively connected to said dog, said member engaging the cable between said pulley and the winding drum and being actuated to cause said dog to engage said ratchet gear movement by variations of the tension in said cable.

11. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a pulley above said drum, a cable wound around the drum and having an end passed upwardly and over said pulley, rod supporting means attached to the last mentioned end of the cable, a counterweight attached to the other end of said cable, a ratchet gear attached to said drum, a pivotally mounted dog adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said gear, a vertically extending oscillatory member operatively connected to said dog, said member engaging the cable between said pulley and the winding drum and being actuated to cause said dog to engage said ratchet gear movement by variations of the tension in said cable, and yielding means urging said dog into engagement with ratchet gear and urging said member to move in a direction opposing that in which it is moved when tension is applied to the cable.

12. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a pulley above said drum, a cable wound around the drum and having an end passed upwardly and over said pulley, rod supporting means attached to the last mentioned end of the cable, a counterweight attached to the other end of said cable, a ratchet gear attached to said drum, a pivotally mounted dog adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said gear, a vertically extending oscillatory member operatively connected to said dog, said member engaging the cable between said pulley and the winding drum and being actuated to cause said dog to engage said ratchet gear movement by variations of the tension in said cable, yielding means urging said dog into engagement with ratchet gear and urging said member to move in a direction opposing that in which it is moved when tension is applied to the cable, and a manually operable brake for said drum.

13. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a pulley above said drum, a cable wound around the drum and having an end passed upwardly and over said pulley, rod supporting means attached to the last mentioned end of the cable, a counterweight attached to the other end of said cable, a ratchet gear attached to said drum, a pivotally mounted dog adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with said gear, a vertically extending oscillatory member operatively connected to said dog, said member engaging the cable between said pulley and the winding drum and being actuated to cause said dogto engage said ratchet gear movement by variations of the tension in said cable, yielding means urging said dog into engagement with ratchet gear and urging said member to move in a direction opposing that in which it is moved when tension is applied to the cable, and means for manually rotating said drum.

14. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable, means for counterbalancing the rod weight, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, and means controllable by the tension in the cable for operating said drum holding means.

15. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable, means for counterbalancing the rod weight, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, yielding means urging the last mentioned means into drum holding position, and means controllable by the tension in the cable for operating said drum holding means.

16. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable, means for counterbalancing the rod weight, means for releasably holding said drum against rotation in one direction, and means operable by the application of load to the cable for releasing said drum holding means.

1'7. In rod handling apparatus for well derricks, a winding drum, means for mounting said drum in the upper part of the derrick, a cable wound around said drum, rod supporting means attached to one end of said cable and a counterweight attached to the other end of the cable, said second mentioned cable end extending to the vicinity of the derrick floor, and a vertically extending guide mounted near the derrick floor level to guide the counterweight in a vertical path horizontally oiTset from a point vertically beneath said drum, the vertical movement of the counterweight on the guide being adapted to serve as a visual index of the movement of the first mentioned end of the cable.

KENNETH D. FULLER. 

